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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tories lose over 1000 seats in local elections

427 replies

noblegiraffe · 05/05/2023 19:24

Which was their damage limitation number so when they lost 800 they could say 'we've not done as badly as we feared'.

AIBU to be cracking open the champagne while they try to figure out how the hell they can put a positive spin on this?

OP posts:
BananaSpanner · 05/05/2023 19:48

Not in my area. They’ve bloody gained.

PensionPuzzle · 05/05/2023 19:49

We've seen a huge number of independents get in here, which pleases me greatly as I think local politics shouldn't necessarily follow party tendancies anyway. Plus our independent candidates, to me, were head and shoulders above the incumbents anyway. I'm just a little concerned how that will translate at national level as people, realistically, will have to revert back to party voting and I'm not sure that will work out for anyone other than the Tories ☹️

MidgeHardcastle · 05/05/2023 19:49

It's a celebration here in the SE! First time ever Conservatives have lost the district, Lib Dems took the majority of their seats. Unfortunately still have a Conservative town council but they are very hands on and we ask a lot of them so it's not too bad really.

wiffin · 05/05/2023 19:50

Sloth66 · 05/05/2023 19:45

It’s good, I’m enjoying a nice drink.
but it’s Nearly 2 years till next general election……

I thought it was next year? Have we got this shit show for 2 more years?

Sirzy · 05/05/2023 19:51

wiffin · 05/05/2023 19:50

I thought it was next year? Have we got this shit show for 2 more years?

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January 2025 is the latest it can be

Xenia · 05/05/2023 19:51

Luckily at my last election my Labour London borough changed to Tory (a rare recent victory for us Tories, thanks in part to local hindus I believe to whom I will always be grateful). Local council here is already much improved.

Vote Conservative.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 05/05/2023 19:51

Nightlystroll · 05/05/2023 19:44

But didn't you expect them to lose in these huge numbers? I can't believe people thought they wouldn't.

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I don't think people thought they wouldn't lose seats, but they have lost in even larger numbers than predicted, and lost many key councils they thought they'd hold.

Although Labour have made lots of gains, I actually think the gains for lib dems and greens are just as significant, and may encourage people who are not enamoured with Starmer to get out and vote. Definitely I don't think people would have expect Tories losing councils to the Greens!

There's a huge difference between the Tories losing over 500 seats and keeping control of a lot of councils, and loosing over 1000 and losing a lot of safe councils!

Garethkeenansstapler · 05/05/2023 19:53

🍾

StillWantingADog · 05/05/2023 19:54

They’ve been kicked out completely out of our council. Every single one
(the tories). Yey!

I do feel slightly sorry for (some of) them though- our now ex tory councillor was a nice chap and did a lot for the area to be fair. He was well regarded locally and has been kicked out because of the national mood, not because of anything he did.

IpanemaChica · 05/05/2023 19:55

I’m so pleased and relieved. It seems the country is not completely lost.

leccybill · 05/05/2023 19:59

Couldn't be happier. Roll on the GE.

DeflatedAgain · 05/05/2023 19:59

Our town has become a proper dive in recent years under conservative.

Local council have splashed out on a new shiny town hall though that no one gives a toss about.

So glad labour has finally won in my area.

jgw1 · 05/05/2023 19:59

Augend23 · 05/05/2023 19:31

I have been obsessively following the numbers.

Now the question is how to translate what is really clearly a desire to change into change at the GE given our first past the post system. I can't see any exact stats but I think left-leaning parties must have taken nearly 2/3 of the vote.

People like to vote for winners. The Tories are losers.

I suspect at the next GE there will a lot of voting for whichever of Labour, LibDems and Greens is most likely to win.

Nightlystroll · 05/05/2023 20:00

Although Labour have made lots of gains, I actually think the gains for lib dems and greens are just as significant, and may encourage people who are not enamoured with Starmer to get out and vote.

It always used to be like this in local elections with the LDs playing a sizeable role. Then after the coalition that changed. I'd be happier for the next GE if Labour could have taken the seats, rather than the LDs or Greens. There's aways a possibility that they might slip back.

HaroldeVwilliam · 05/05/2023 20:00

@Sirzy.. Like me it's a reflection of how people are feeling about their local councils.

It's got no bearing in running the actual country.

Our local councils were arrogant, dismissive and distant.

jgw1 · 05/05/2023 20:03

Xenia · 05/05/2023 19:51

Luckily at my last election my Labour London borough changed to Tory (a rare recent victory for us Tories, thanks in part to local hindus I believe to whom I will always be grateful). Local council here is already much improved.

Vote Conservative.

You are funny?

HaroldeVwilliam · 05/05/2023 20:03

Also there was no labour presence here at all so lib dems were the only choice but actually I'd rather have gone independent.

Iwasafool · 05/05/2023 20:03

I'm so disappointed that my council is Conservative and even more that my lovely helpful independent councillor has been replaced by a Conservative.

I guess I need to look at the national picture but not quite there yet.

Twiglets1 · 05/05/2023 20:04

BlanketPile · 05/05/2023 19:37

I heard Riagi is still saying they are delivering what the people want..umm...

For once he's right because we wanted to see the Tories get slapped

cakeorwine · 05/05/2023 20:04

Lots of things are read into local election results.

However, things look interesting.

And the more the Tories wait for a general election, the less time they have over choosing a "good time" for them.

jgw1 · 05/05/2023 20:05

HaroldeVwilliam · 05/05/2023 20:00

@Sirzy.. Like me it's a reflection of how people are feeling about their local councils.

It's got no bearing in running the actual country.

Our local councils were arrogant, dismissive and distant.

I am delighted to see that the Toires appear to have learnt nothing.

dapsnotplimsolls · 05/05/2023 20:07

Good. Bastards.

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 05/05/2023 20:12

Oh happy day!

I hope they’re really fucking pissed off. As pissed off as I am with them.

#fuckthetories

wildinthecountry · 05/05/2023 20:15

ThankmelaterOkay · 05/05/2023 19:45

Yeah, thanks John.

Hums THIIIIIINGS….CAN….ONLY….

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🎶 GET BETTER 🎶

jgw1 · 05/05/2023 20:15

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 05/05/2023 20:12

Oh happy day!

I hope they’re really fucking pissed off. As pissed off as I am with them.

#fuckthetories

The Tories will win the next General election, they got Brexit done.
Keir dull will never be the people's choice to be Prime Minister. Why didn't the police arrest him for having a beer - a beer he was only having to appear to be cool.